Qi Yuanshan had already agreed in his heart but joked aloud, "At the very least, you should wait for me to return!"
"Captain, returning and wielding two sabers simultaneously would be too formidable."
The thought of that scene made Qi Yuanshan feel like a foolish son of a wealthy landlord, so he stopped joking.
With a wave, he mounted his horse and took his son to Uncle Meng's.
At this moment, Fu Yu was squatting on the ground, circling the large sabre, not afraid of his legs getting tired.
Occasionally, he would gently touch the hilt or the blade with his finger.
He really wanted to feel the edge, but his daughter's words made him give up, and he dared not overstep.
His finger was so slender; if he mishandled the force, a cut would be the least of it.
If… he dared not think further. He wouldn't touch dangerous things.
When Qi Yuanshan saw the large sabre, nothing else could enter his eyes.
He squatted down, his right hand continuously stroking the blade. It was fine steel, truly as he had imagined.
For a soldier who fought on the battlefield, possessing a handy weapon was an extremely desirable thing.
Qi Yuanshan was lost in his own world, oblivious to his surroundings.
It wasn't until he heard Uncle Meng say, "Yuanshan, this large sabre was found for you by Ci'er's master. Do you like it?"
"I like it," Qi Yuanshan replied crisply. He even bowed to Uncle Meng, a soldier's highest form of respect.
"Yuanshan, what are you doing?" Uncle Meng quickly stepped forward personally to help Qi Yuanshan up.
"Uncle Meng, thank you, and thank Ci Xin's master as well." Qi Yuanshan was too moved; his voice trembled. He had countless words of gratitude in his heart but didn't know how to express them.
So he repeatedly said thank you.
Fu Xinci: I really want to say, Uncle Qi, please don't keep thanking me to pieces, or you'll be dismantled into bits.
Later, it was Grandpa Meng who spoke what was on everyone's mind, "Yuanshan, can you show me your sabre techniques? I'm really coveting this large sabre now."
Grandpa Meng spoke his true feelings; anyone who saw this large sabre would like it, even an old man like him.
"Alright." Qi Yuanshan had already intended to do so but felt it improper to bring it up himself in front of Uncle Meng.
Now that Uncle Meng had suggested it, how could he refuse the old gentleman's wish?
"Let's go outside first. Everyone should go outside to watch." Grandpa Meng feared the children getting too close to the sabre and being in danger, so he led the children out of the room first.
"Father, the courtyard outside is much more spacious." Fu Yu surveyed their courtyard and finally concluded that the area outside the main gate was most suitable for Brother Yuanshan to perform.
Grandpa Meng strongly agreed with his son's suggestion, "Yes, let's go outside the main gate."
As the entire family, young and old, headed towards the main gate, Qi Yuanshan picked up the large sabre and strode out of the front door.
The fine steel hilt felt inexplicably comfortable in his hand.
The sabre instantly felt like a part of his body.
Outside the main gate, a crowd had already gathered.
Seeing the fervent look in his son's eyes, Qi Yuanshan gave him a reassuring smile.
The north wind had stopped at some point. In the warm winter sun, a tall, upright figure and a flash of silver sabre light intertwined, dazzling everyone's eyes.
Fu Xinci now understood why so many ancient great generals wielded sabres.
With just one slash from Uncle Qi just now, if there had been an enemy opposite him, heads would have surely rolled.
Thinking of that scene, every cell in her body was clamoring with excitement: Battle! Battle! Battle!
Fu Xinci: If grandfather knew about this thought, he would worry again.
On the hillside of the garrison, Commander Jin, leading his brothers, stared at the flashing sabre light in front of the Meng family's courtyard in the distance, their mouths agape in astonishment, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground.
They had inhaled a bellyful of cold wind without even realizing it.
After a long while, Qi Yuanshan finally sheathed his sabre, instantly earning a round of applause.
With slightly reddened eyes, Qi Yuanshan, having finished his sabre dance, first wanted to thank the person who sent the sabre.
This sabre made him as formidable as a tiger with wings, multiplying his combat power tenfold, and filling his heart with heroic spirit.
If he were on the battlefield now, he would undoubtedly be able to hold his own and ensure the Tatars would never return.
However, Uncle Meng's words cast a shadow over his expression, "Ci'er's master always comes and goes without a trace. Even Ci'er herself doesn't know when her master will arrive."
"Yes, yes," Fu Xinci chimed in obsequiously after her grandfather spoke.
"Then what should we do! I really want to thank them personally." Such a wonderful gift bestowed upon him; he couldn't just let it pass as if nothing had happened. He wanted to thank them face-to-face.
"Uncle Qi, you don't need to worry too much about these things. My master doesn't care for such worldly courtesies."
Qi Yuanshan: What should he do to meet the person who sent him the sabre?
Fu Xinci hadn't expected Uncle Qi to be so touched, his eyes slightly moist.
Qi Yuanshan: How could a little girl understand a true warrior's longing for a handy weapon?
As everyone was talking, they suddenly saw a plume of smoke rising from the north.
Qi Yuanshan merely said, "The Tatars are attacking," then grabbed his large sabre, leaped onto his horse, and rode towards the garrison.
"Father, I want to go fight with you too." Qi He, seeing his father ride away, also wanted to follow, but Grandpa Meng stopped him.
"Little He, your father is going to fight, not to play. You can't go and cause him trouble."
"Grandpa Meng, I won't cause Father trouble. I just want to help him."
"Since you want to help your father, wait for your father's instructions later."
"Okay."
Fu Yu, seeing the smoke signal, also eagerly spoke to his father, discussing what to do. "Father."
"Yu'er, you first take the family back to the courtyard and lock every gate from the inside."
"Father?"
"I will take Little He and Ci'er to see what's happening at the garrison."
"Father, I should go."
"Yu'er, be obedient. If I tell you to stay, you must stay. Hurry inside and close the doors."
Seeing his father's rare sternness, Fu Yu could only nod in agreement. "Yes."
Grandpa Meng didn't say anything further but quickly led the two children towards the main road by the small river.
From afar, they could see the men from Wujia Village running towards the garrison, each holding a weapon.
Grandpa Meng, having served as a local official, immediately understood what was happening and loudly proclaimed, "All villagers of Mengjia Village, listen up! If you have an adult male in your household, immediately send one person with a weapon to report to the garrison."
Grandpa Meng's voice wasn't very loud. Qi He, fearing that some households might not hear, ran forward loudly, repeatedly shouting, "All villagers of Mengjia Village, listen up! If you have an adult male in your household, immediately send one person with a weapon to report to the garrison..."
The boy's voice was sharp. After shouting several times, almost everyone in Mengjia Village heard.